Hello my friends, My YouTube channel is nearing 5,000 subbies! I've been working hard since January and have gained over 1K in six months. Today's blog post is an incentive to get you over to my channel and give me thumbs up, comment and subscribe.
I've gotten some very surprising benefits from being on YouTube. I've made new friends, learned a lot, discovered some talented artists, crafters, videographers, comedians and vloggers.
The giveaway is open ended. It depends on what you want. A handpainted card? A folder of ephemera? Just make sure you comment and sub at YouTube. Not here!
Today's video is from ages ago. It's a card with ombre ink stamping, foiling and postage stamps. It's especially dedicated to those crazy Millenials who are making YouTube someplace special.
Comment on YouTube and do me a solid by subbing! At 5,000 there will be another giveaway.
Here's the vid ... Affiliate links are below*
These are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale with no extra cost to you. By using my links you help me support my channel and blog. I'll be taking a bit of time off this week for the holidays and #tendonitissucks, by the way :) If you follow me on social media, I'll be popping in and out! Happy 4th My Fellow American.
Hello dear friends, below is the last bit of video I compiled from my splashing about with my new watercolors and etegami paper. What a magical process! Honestly. It is like having a new kitten! (No offense Teddy.) Find the first post/video here.
I'm guessing here but would say that the etegami paper is layers of sumi-e paper and other papers that give it more rigidity. Another guess is that the higher the "blur" factor the lighter the sizing in the paper. Sizing is what keeps paint and ink from running on your paper. I'll confirm this with JetPens.
This is the magic, the bounty, the delight of watercolor. The color runs in unexpected ways. It has no mind, it finds the way to flow. Your hand is a facilitator. The paper used encourages it to flow more or less. This particular paper, like sumi-e paper*, is like a good parent, allowing the "child" to become what she was meant to.
Watercolor is a perfect metaphor in my mind.
My artist's eye sees more to be done with these small works. "There aren't lights and darks!" "Emphasize this or that!" "Balderdash."** There is a mastery to Sumi-e painting but I've largely ignored that here, wild Westerner that I am. Enjoy the last bit of video. I sincerely apologize for the lighting.
Here are the supplies I used from JetPens
*Sumi-e paper is a very light weight paper, slightly transluscent used for calligraphy and black ink paintings in Japan. The paper is unsized or lightly sized. It's usually in a roll.
** Balderdash: senseless talk or writing; nonsense. Late 16th century (denoting a frothy liquid; later, an unappetizing mixture of drinks): of unknown origin.
Hey gang, I did a live stream last night. I'm still in the "Beta" phase. Things are going much better so I'll start announcing these live events and get a bit more organized. I'm ridiculously tired right now but wanted to let you know that I'm still here!
I'll sneak in some photos of the finished cards soon. Check out the sidebar and here for upcoming live teaching events. I'll be in CT for Art Is You in October and I'm looking forward to that. Alot of behind the scenes stuff.
I picked up those Finetec Metallic watercolors at Merriartist.com here. They are very discounted at $18.95. Tell them I sent you and thanks to Barbara for that link.
Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.
I'm so happy to announce my brand new course over at Curious.com. Loaded with some of my favorite mixed media techniques applied to greeting cards.
In 12 lessons, learn to inlay die cuts in new ways, Gelli Arts plates with pigment inks, creative ways to stretch your stamps and stencils and create your own holiday card kit.
Curious.com is a great resource! You can learn most anything from Zen to the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance *Did anyone get that reference*? That link will take you to the full lesson.
This was one of my favorite lessons, using texture paste, distress ink and that lovely Botanical stamp from Tim Holtz. Enjoy!
Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.
Happy National Craft Month. This is the second video in the DIY Card Kit series aka "Free to Embellish"
As you may have noticed, the card making bug has gone viral around these parts. A defining moment came when, whilst crafting with my daughter, I wondered, idly and out loud, if perhaps we needed Embellishments. There was an outpouring of glee. (There's a video down there, if you'd like to skip the folderol.)
I put on my big girl pants and went to Michael's. I've seen this stuff before, and even bought some of it. I've not really understood what the fuss was all about. It's cluttery and for those of us with a bit of ADD, it's confusing. (Look! A bird just flew by!)
So I had a think and came up with some storage. I am easily frustrated and confused (see: Look! A Bird) when surrounded by clutter so it's really important for me to be tidy with this *ahem* stuff (I'm trying not to cuss this year.
I keep things in small bowls when crafting with said ... stuff. But my daughter! OMG - She's ruthless. It's like crafting with The Terminator. I swear that girl tried to pluck a glued-down sequin right off my project one night. Like a seagull after a clam.
Back to a more civilized world, I do like these silicone muffin cups and use them often.
I'm liking this whole paper crafting thing enormously. I am allowed to like this kind of stuff even though I went to Art School. And I like glitter too. And look! I put sequins on a card! It's for my dear Auntie who will love it.
Oh man, it was a load of fun to make the inlaid die cut. It took me at least three nights and problem solving. Kept me busy. I like engineering challenges. If you are still reading this post, thank you. If you skipped down to the video from way up there ^ that's ok. I'm on a ramble today. Over there in the sidebar you'll see links for Scrapbook.com and SimonSaysStamp.com. Embellishments galore can be found there as well as your basement, yard, thrift shop, mail, etc. (Affiliate links. Thanks for your support.)
Welcome to National Craft Month on my blog! Today, we take a look at crafting cards and specifically how to mix and match papers from paper pads and create a card kit for yourself. These techniques work for mixing fabrics or papers for any art or craft project.
In the video, I give you tips to mixing papers from different packs and help you look for large, medium and small prints, colors that mix and match. And give a push to get dark, medium and light papers. I encouraged my daughter (completely grown) to put together this kit with my advice.
She had some trouble pushing into the dark colors. I suspect that's common. Dark is a commitment but add a little anyway. It will give your projects some weight. We added washi tapes, suminagashi papers and other handmade papers.
I found some beautiful bird cards from Ikea and a lovely piece of paper from Jill Berry (above, bottom, right).
I started making cards about a year ago and find it a relaxing and enjoyable craft. It's satisfying to send handmade cards to friends and family.
Enjoy the video, gang. I'll be back on Friday with some embellishments. We'd found them sadly lacking in our card kit ;) (Affiliate links below the video for your convenience. Use what you have.)
It's the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it?
Nothing used to stress me out like Christmas. Really. Several years ago, I discovered that if I handmade most presents and cut back severely on the amount of presents, Christmas is very fun. Imagine that! A fun time of year.
If you are an introvert, you will completely understand this too: I go to ONE holiday party outside of our big family soiree. Don't get me wrong. I like giving gifts and I love my friends and family. It's just all too much, too close together.
I made a bunch of cards and tags this year. Fun and done. I'm ready to return to my secular ways. My unholy journal, my non-holiday paintings.
Enjoy the video. I really do think that going into crafty mode decreases holiday stress.
I've included a whole bunch of affiliate links below in case you are still looking for holiday gifts.
Hey gang, I've been wanting to introduce you to this machine for some time now. I've tested it extensively (wiping the sweat from my brow) and am happy to say that it's pretty darn cool.
My initial reaction to buying this was "don't" but I rethunk things and am just scratching the surface of ways to have fun. The most exciting thing is that you can use your own drawings or images to foil as long as they are printed out with a toner (laser) printer or copier.
It's all explained in the video.
*Please forgive editing errors. I had a heck of a week. More about that below the affiliate links. I will be uploading the free images over the weekend so watch the sidebar for the links.
Scrapbook.com is the only online source offering this low a price. Unfortunately, they run out of them all of the time. Use the link at the right hand column of this page to see if they are in stock currently.
Foiled Again is my online class with loads of ways to get Foiling on your paper projects without a machine. Check it out here.
Affiliate Links
*Personal Note: I thank you for your good wishes on my health troubles. My biopsy came back positive for pre-cancer. There is a tiny chance that they will find anything more. I have surgery on Wednesday and it'll be a doozy. It's a heads up for all of us to get our Gyn visits in every year.
Hi Gang, I'm toiling away (grin) on some illustrations of Autumnal items. Later this week there will be a review of the Heidi Swapp Mini Minc machine from American Craft. I've had it for a few months and put it through it's paces.
These illustrations will be turned into digital stamps (full explanationt to come) with a couple as free downloads so you try them out. Here's a little process video from yesterday's drawing session. Enjoy!
Making cards with these kits is really a blast. Challenging and relaxing at the same time.
Those wonderful packs of patterned papers. Stamps and inkpads. Yummy.
I splurged on the Simon Says Stamp September card kit and made a dozen cards. I ran out of card stock after 8 cards but since the rest of the kit was going strong, I went too.
Here's a video showing the kit contents and some words. The supply list is below. I just signed up for the kit on a monthly basis. I'm doing really well with not being an art snob anymore.
Use what you have. The following are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale at no cost to you. Thanks for helping support my channel/blog this way.
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